ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cobbler, keep to your last

idiom
Meaning

One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's business.


Origin

disputed origin

From last (“a tool for shaping shoes”), related to the Latin phrase sutor, ne ultra crepidam.

Examples
SIMPLE

You should stick to your job and cobbler, keep to your last.

CONTEXTUAL

The accountant tried to tell the doctor how to perform surgery, but the doctor told him to cobbler, keep to your last.

COMPLEX

While the amateur critic offered unsolicited advice on the complex architectural plans, the lead engineer politely reminded him that a cobbler should keep to his last.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    breathe one's last

    To die.

  2. 02

    dead last

    Finishing in last place in a competition or ranking, often by a considerable margin to the next to last place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.

  3. 03

    draw one's last breath

    To die.

  4. 04

    earn one's keep

    To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.

  5. 05

    every last

    every; without exception (used for emphasis).

  6. 06

    fall at the last hurdle

    To fail near the end of an activity, a project, etc.

  7. 07

    first and last

    A person's combined given name and surname.

  8. 08

    have seen one's last gum tree

    Of a person, on the edge of death.

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